Houston Methodist, your Trusted Link for March 2021

Houston Methodist as a Resource

The #1 hospital in Texas, according to US News & World Report, #20 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll, with national ranking in 11 adult specialties, the Houston Methodist hospital system has a Level III trauma center and over 2,500 beds.  Founded in 1919 during the height of the Spanish Flu epidemic, Houston Methodist has been headquartered in the Texas Medical Center since 1951. It currently has six hospitals in the Houston area. It's famous for cardiovascular surgery, cancer, epilepsy treatment, and organ transplantation.  Houston Methodist's academic affiliations include Cornell University's Weill Cornell Medical College and the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, as well as the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.  At Houston Methodist in 1950, Dr. Michael DeBakey performed the first removal of a carotid artery blockage. In 1964, he performed the first aorto-coronary bypass surgery. In 1966, he was the first to use a ventricular assist device to pump blood and support a diseased heart. In 1968, the world's first simultaneous multiple-organ transplant took place at Houston Methodist. Today, the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center supports patients undergoing organ or tissue transplants, and those facing advanced organ failure. The Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine treats performing artists in disciplines including dance, voice, and instrumental music. Houston Methodist is also the official health care provider for the Houston Texans and Houston Astros sports teams.  The Houston Methodist Research Institute supports the unique technological needs inherent to conducting translational research. It has built over 20 core facilities that provide investigators and external researchers access to exceptional scientific technology.  The Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE) features a virtual hospital, procedural skills lab, and high-tech operating rooms where physicians and surgeons learn new skills. The EnMed program, created in partnership with Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, is an innovative Engineering Medicine program designed to educate a new kind of physician who will create transformational technology for health care. EnMed students fulfill all academic and professional requirements for the MD degree, and engage in additional experiences involving engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.

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Small Business Employee-Only Premium Costs in the Far West U.S.

Annual small business employee-only (i.e. singe premium) health premium costs in the five-state Far West U.S. and nationally, from the most recent (2019) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a periodic survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
AK	$9,427	$8,773	$11,344
CA	$6,874	$7,002	$7,150
HI	$6,746	$6,495	$6,858
OR	$5,933	$5,965	$7,232
WA	$6,259	$5,989	$6,963
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the Mountain States

Except for New Mexico and Wyoming, the annual employee-only premium (i.e. single premium) costs for health insurance coverage for small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) in the Mountain states typically run below national average rates for similarly sized businesses. Average small business premium costs are higher in New Mexico and Wyoming mainly because of particularly high costs for businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Data from the most recent (2019) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a health-cost related survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, provides the following detail about annual small business employee-only health premium costs in the Mountain states and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
AZ	$5,924	$5,528	$6,436
CO	$6,144	$6,410	$6,443
ID	$5,962	$5,651	$6,656
MT	$6,063	$6,826	$5,584
NV	$5,464	$5,874	$5,764
NM	$7,249	$6,372	$8,203
UT	$5,067	$5,116	$4,656
WY	$7,590	$6,215	$8,224
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the North Central States

The annual single premium (i.e. employee-only ) rate for health insurance coverage for small businesses (with less than 50 employees) in the North Central region of the United States generally run lower than average rates for similarly sized businesses elsewhere.  Data from the most recent (2019) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a health-cost related survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, reveals the following about yearly small business employee-only health premium costs in the North Central states and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
IA	$5,989	$5,982	$6,159
KS	$5,907	$5,215	$6,457
MN	$6,419	$6,402	$7,284
MO	$6,366	$5,825	$6,262
NE	$6,402	$6,470	$6,456
ND	$6,864	$7,428	$6,670
SD	$6,903	$7,483	$6,970
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the South Central U.S.

The annual employee-only premium (i.e. single premium) cost for small business (fewer than 50 employees) health insurance coverage in the South Central U.S. generally runs lower than the national average cost for similarly sized businesses. Data from the 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the most recent survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to capture health insurance cost data, reveals the following about yearly small business employee-only health premium costs in the South Central U.S. region and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
AL	$6,420	$6,408	$6,845
AR	$5,545	$6,316	$6,340
KY	$6,697	$7,080	$8,603
LA	$7,402	$7,000	$7,588
MS	$6,885	$7,868	N/A
OK	$6,381	$6,551	N/A
TN	$6,221	$6,474	$6,812
TX	$6,974	$6,568	$8,289
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the Great Lakes Region

Annual small business employee-only health premium costs in the five-state Great Lakes region and nationally, from the most recent (2019) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a periodic survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
IL	$7,315	$6,797	$8,400
IN	$7,305	$7,840	$7,608
MI	$6,133	$7,004	$5,692
OH	$7,113	$6,804	$8,490
WI	$6,479	$6,094	$7,510
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee Only Health Premium Costs in the South Atlantic Region

Data from the most recent Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2019), a periodic survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, reveals the following about annual small business employee-only health premium costs in the South Atlantic region and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
DE	$8,458	$8,266	$10,636
DC	$6,787	$6,088	$6,988
FL	$7,147	$6,869	$7,166
GA	$6,643	$7,228	$6,431
MD	$6,672	$6,332	$7,248
NC	$6,468	$7,234	$7,005
SC	$7,376	$8,283	$8,098
VA	$6,979	$6,619	$8,784
WV	$7,361	$7,272	$7,027
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the Mid-Atlantic States

The annual employee-only premium (i.e. single premium) rate for health insurance coverage for small businesses (with less than 50 employees) in the Mid-Atlantic states typically run above national average rates for similarly sized businesses. Data from the most recent (2019) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, details the following about yearly small business employee-only health premium costs in the Mid-Atlantic states and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
NJ	$7,785	$8,880	$7,678
NY	$8,253	$7,844	$8,823
PA	$7,268	$6,909	$8,045
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Small Business Health Premium Rates in New England

The annual single premium (i.e. employee-only) rate for health insurance coverage for small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) in New England typically run higher than national average rates for similarly sized businesses. In comparison to national average rates, the smallest firms, with fewer than 10 employees, in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are subject to particularly high annual premium rates for employee-only health plan coverage.  2019 data from the most recent Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a data survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, reveals the following about small business employee-only health premium rates in New England and nationally:

	All Businesses with	Businesses with	Businesses with
State	under 50 Employees	10 to 24 Employees	under 10 Employees
CT	$7,607	$7,030	$8,294
ME	$6,295	$6,836	$5,914
MA	$8,017	$8,036	$8,643
NH	$7,136	$7,072	$8,070
RI	$7,483	$7,224	$9,466
VT	$6,978	$6,655	$7,502
U.S.	$6,920	$6,892	$7,528

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019

Private Sector Employee-Only Health Premium Costs in the North Central Region

The annual cost for single premium (i.e. employee-only) health insurance coverage for private sector employers in the North Central region of the U.S. is mostly lower than national average levels. Single premium health insurance rates for small firms, with fewer than 50 employees, in all seven states in the region are, on average, below the average rate for similar sized employers nationally.  This also is true for larger employers in the region, except in Minnesota and South Dakota.  A deeper look at the data from the most recent Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2019), which is administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, tells us the following about private sector employee-only health premium costs in the North Central region and nationally:

State	(1) Small Firms	(2) Large Firms	Overall Avg.
IA	$5,989	$6,788	$6,657
KS	$5,907	$6,431	$6,338
MN	$6,419	$6,990	$6,904
MO	$6,366	$6,904	$6,800
NE	$6,402	$6,668	$6,628
ND	$6,864	$6,630	$6,681
SD	$6,903	$7,226	$7,161
U.S.	$6,920	$6,983	$6,972

(1) fewer than 50 employees

(2) 50 or more employees

Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel Survey  Table II.C.1 - Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments that offer health insurance by firm size and State: United States, 2019